noun
- a gill of a fish or other aquatic animal
Usage: biological; technical
Examples
- The fish’s branchia extract oxygen from the water.
- Each branchia is richly supplied with blood vessels.
- The branchia are protected by gill covers in most fish.
- Marine biologists study the structure of branchia in different species.
- Damage to the branchia can be fatal for aquatic animals.
- The branchia filter water to obtain dissolved oxygen.